Women played an important role in the fishing industry in Scotland; some were employed to bait lines but the majority worked at gutting and curing the catches. When the herring summer season finished at home many fisher lassies travelled down south to catch the autumn herring season in fishing ports like Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft. In this audio extract, a former Caithness fisher lassie recalls her 'kipperin' days. Her name is Chrissie Smith and she was recorded at Dalmore House Eventide Home (Alness) in 1984 as part of reminiscence classes run by the Workers Educational Association.

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A long day at the kippering

1980s

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

Bill Sinclair Audio: Fisher Lassies

Women played an important role in the fishing industry in Scotland; some were employed to bait lines but the majority worked at gutting and curing the catches. When the herring summer season finished at home many fisher lassies travelled down south to catch the autumn herring season in fishing ports like Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft. In this audio extract, a former Caithness fisher lassie recalls her 'kipperin' days. Her name is Chrissie Smith and she was recorded at Dalmore House Eventide Home (Alness) in 1984 as part of reminiscence classes run by the Workers Educational Association.<br />
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'If they wis a rush till git e herrin - e kipperin - doon till Billingsgate, we'd hiv to go oot at twelve o'clock at night till pack up at herrin till five o'clock in e mornin. Ye got home for a cup o tea, went back oot at six and finished that right, that work. Oh, Ah wis quite delighted. Ah've seen us working till aboot nine o'clock at night, come home, and there wis a dance on. Whee, Ah wis away off. An Ah wid put scent on ma hair an ye'd smell e kippers off it. [Laughter] Oh, used'll hiv a jolly time!'